June 2, 1995
Montreal Protocol Working Group Considers Proposals on Methyl
Bromide
Seventy-three signatory nations to the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer met in Kenya in early
May 1995 to present proposals on controlling methyl bromide
and other ozone depleting chemicals. Despite strong
resistance from methyl bromide manufacturers and users in
certain countries, several nations proposed a wide range of
phaseout schedules as well as cuts in methyl bromide use for
both industrialized and developing nations.
At least a dozen countries, including Australia, the
Netherlands, Malawi, South Africa, the U.S. and Japan,
presented a wide variety of proposals on methyl bromide,
ranging from no control measures to a 25% cut in methyl
bromide use in 1998 and a full phaseout in 2001 with
specified exemptions. Parties to the Montreal Protocol will
further refine these proposals at the next working group
meeting (Aug. 28 to Sept. 1) in Geneva and will formally
consider the control measures in early December 1995.
The Montreal Protocol's Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) also
heard presentations from several scientific advisory panels,
which involved 700 technical and economic experts from 46
countries. On methyl bromide, the Technology and Economic
Assessment Panel concluded that reductions of up to 90% of
methyl bromide use in industrialized countries, as well as
limits to future growth of methyl bromide use in developing
nations, are technically and economically feasible. The panel
also found that controls on methyl bromide would be more cost
effective than controls on other ozone depleting substances,
and that challenges faced in implementing alternatives to
methyl bromide are no greater than those already overcome by
users of CFCs and other ozone destroying chemicals.
Several developing nations (most notably Kenya, India,
Malaysia and Uruguay) maintained that the science of methyl
bromide is insufficiently clear to require action, and that
few alternatives exist to replace the fumigant. These nations
also expressed concern that more bilateral and multilateral
funding is needed before developing countries can consider
restrictions on methyl bromide use.
To highlight the existence of alternatives to methyl bromide,
PAN North America (PANNA) has published a report on
nonchemical alternatives, which was distributed at the OWEG
meeting. The report presents excerpts from the Montreal
ProtocolUs Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MBTOC)
1995 Assessment, which concluded that alternatives are
currently available or at an advanced stage of development
for more than 90% of current methyl bromide use.
MBTOC was established by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
to review the availability of alternatives; after a two year
review, the Committee published an extensive review of
chemical and nonchemical alternatives to methyl bromide in
soil, durable, perishable and structural fumigation. The
objective of PANNA's report is to highlight MBTOCUs evidence
of non-chemical alternatives and to demonstrate the
feasibility of a rapid global phaseout of methyl bromide,
with particular attention to developing countries. The report
focuses on non-chemical alternatives since they are safer for
people and the environment and will spare users from
replacing one problematic chemical with another.
In light of the extensive evidence of alternatives, PANNA and
other NGOs make the following recommendations in the report:
(1) Parties to the Montreal Protocol should mandate a
complete phaseout of methyl bromide in industrialized
countries by 2000; (2) industrialized nations must provide
technical and economic assistance to developing countries to
help replace methyl bromide with sustainable alternatives;
and (3) to prevent methyl bromide manufacturers from dumping
obsolete stocks in developing countries, Southern governments
should freeze the use and importation of methyl bromide at
1991 levels.
Scientific experts at the OEWG meeting noted that methyl
bromide restrictions in developing nations are critical,
since with no future controls and a continuation of the
current 7% increase in use per year, total ozone depletion is
estimated to increase by 700% between 1980 and 2050 from
developing country use alone. Developing nations currently
account for approximately 18% of global methyl bromide use.
Methyl bromide is a widely used fumigant that is toxic to
people and depletes the ozone layer. In 1992, a United
NationsU scientific panel estimated that methyl bromide is
responsible for 5 P 10% of worldwide ozone depletion. In
1994, U.N. scientists identified elimination of human sources
of methyl bromide as the most significant remaining step
governments can take to reduce future ozone loss.
Sources: "Alternatives to Methyl Bromide: Excerpts from the
U.N. Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee 1995
Assessment," May 1995, available from PANNA.
Contact: Anne Schonfield, PANNA.
===========================================================
| PANNA | for standard information |
| Phone:(415) 541-9140 | about PANNA send a short |
| Fax:(415) 541-9253 | email message to |
| email: panna@econet.apc.org | panna-info@econet.apc.org |
| gopher: gopher.econet.apc.org| |
| ___ |
| To subscribe to PANUPS send email to MAJORDOMO@igc.apc.org|
| with the following text on one line: subscribe panups |
| To unsubscibe send the following: unsubscribe panups |
===========================================================